More about Norfolk Royale Hotel
A real relief
by TripAdvisor Member TansandTone
After reading all the previous bad reviews about this hotel I was dreading what we would find on our recent weekend visit, especially as I had recommended it to the other couple with us.
Our first experience was reception where the staff were extremely pleasant and helpful.
OK so the hotel is a bit on the tired side but then it is an Edwardian period hotel. Of course the floor boards squeaked and the plumbing was a little old but if you want bland up-to-date furnishings then stay at a Travellodge!!
Overall it was a very pleasant weekend helped by the fact that all the staff in the hotel looked after us very well.
Fantastic!!!!! Definately a Winner!!!
by TripAdvisor Member meerkatWestSussex
We were staying at the hotel for our first wedding anniversary. It was recommended to us by some friends who had been in the past and enjoyed their stay and although I had seen some bad reviews, we thought we'd give it a go. Upon our arrival, we were greated by very welcoming, happy staff who couldn't have been more helpful.
We were directed to our room very clearly and when we arrived it was lovely. The decor was of very high quality and the room was bright and not noisy.
There was a very relaxing pool and jacuzzi area which was in a glass dome - how romantic!!! The sauna and steamroom had also just been refurbished and were great too.
Dinner in the Echoes restaurant was some of the best food both my husband and I had had in a restaurant in a long time, and the staff in the restaurant were friendly and welcoming.
Overall I would recommend this hotel to anyone. The staff are extremely freindly and nothing is too much for them.
Not so Royale at the Norfolk
by TripAdvisor Member snakepass
We have been coming to Bournemouth as a couple most years since 1979. Often passed the Norfolk Royale and promised ourselves that one day we would treat ourelves. What a dissapointment. Firstly we were greeted by a porter that, as we were semi-struggleing up the stairs, walked straight passed us, just to stand outside doing nothing. We proceeded to the reception, this was ok, except we do like to be told where the basic facilities are (bar,resturant, lift etc).....we wern't, no offer of porterage to our room either. No advise either of evening dinner arrangements , so we did not bother. Arrived at our room, nice but certainly not special, VG bathroom though. Dieing for a cup of tea to find only one cup in this double room. Half an hour after our arrival we were disturbed by room service which we did not order. Went out for a meal i n the evening, returned at 10pm for a couple of drinks, had one, then the bar closed at 1025pm and told if we wanted another drink we would have to ask the porter....amazing. We spent the rest of the next half an hour advising people as they arrived at the bar, how to get a drink. Tables in the bar not cleared and covered in drink staines. Second night bar stayed open longer and the sandwiches we ordered were good, still very untidy tables though
Breakfast on the first morning was good, plenty of choice, but service very basic.
On the second morning, very little left in the cold buffet / fresh fruit counter, and it was only 0855. Most of the tables had been used and not cleared away. Someone was going round dripping water on the tables to wipe them, but unbelievably left most of the used items on the table.
We commented to one another about the amount of terse warning signs around the hotel (especially the Molton Brown one!) Checking out was ok, the young lady was helpful when we found mistakes on the bill (charged for the room service we did not order and some other bits) Overall and very unprofessionaly run hotel, and a dissapointing weekend. we wont be back
Just don't eat there
by A TripAdvisor Member
Lovely building, nice gardens, good room.....but the food was absolutely appalling. Really, really, REALLY bad. They should sort their act out or sell up, there is no excuse for this in a part of the country which has so much great food to offer.
One to avoid, unless you're planning on eating elsewhere.....
Wonder Hotel
by A TripAdvisor Member
Having read the other revues on here I am delighted to say we were more than pleasantly suprised at the high standards of service and food at the hotel. Indeed I wonder if all these comments are genuine. I have stayed in many many hotels due to the nature of my work and I have to say I thought the food excellent. At dinner the waiting staff were professional yet human. We loved the atmosphere in the bar when we were having a nightcap. Very easy going. I would recommend anyone stays here if they want a bygone era - sure if you have a few million to spare it could be lovingly restored - but realistically if you want a hotel that has character rather than just a bed for the night then I would recommend this hotel.
Fantastic
by A TripAdvisor Member
We pulled up, it looked fantastic, the room was great - bigger than your average standard and the leisure facilities were clean and tidy. Food excellent - a lot of non resident diners there - always a good sign! 4star with a personal service - would recommend.
Love Staying Here
by TripAdvisor Member TheLedge
Everything about the Norfolk is great. I have stayed here many times for business and it's a pleasure every time.
The rooms are clean, the facilities are great, the breakfast is great, the service and concierge are friendly and courteous and the location is exceptional.
The only problem I have with the NR, is that it's so hard to get a booking! :o)
Lovely... but take plenty of money with you!
by TripAdvisor Member rainbow40
Booked this stay through Englishrosehotels (i think thats right), notice a special rate at £54.99 per night per person, for Dinner Bed Breakfast - so telephoned and spoke with the receptionist who said that this was a week day special, named "summer sizzler", I ummed a couple of times, and knocked her down from £65 to £54.99 - so it is definately worth bargaining with them. The room was ok - bed linen needs updating - totally clashed with the whole decor of the room and ruined it, although saying that, the rest of the room was ok, bathroom clean - bed head boards mucky - yuk, they need covering.
Sampled the delights of the bar on the first evening before our meal, 2 glasses of wine cost us £11.00 - (could have bought nearly 4 bottles for that at Asda ha) yikes. The food was like nothing I had ever tasted before - absoloutely out of this world, beautiful. Choice of starters, main and desert - all full of flavours I had never tasted before.
Overall, a pleasant stay. Would definately go back again - but only at a bargain rate! Oh, and car parking is £9 per night - so watch out for that one. (Try bargaining when making the reservation - it might work!)
Very disappointing
by TripAdvisor Member Smudger1
We booked this hotel for our wedding reception and twelve rooms for our guests. Three of our guests commented on the rudeness and abruptness of the receptionists when booking their rooms and that was before they arrived! When we arrived on the morning of our wedding the receptionist looked at us, carried on with what he was writing then walked away! Our room which was newly decorated was ok with a good sized bathroom for £135 (but still had a piece of wallpaper hanging off) but some of our guest's rooms were dated and extremely noisy. The breakfast was ok if you got down there in time as the food ran out. One guest asked if there was any more bacon which arrived five minutes later with the comment ' you wouldn't have wanted it uncooked would you! ' The level of service fell far below what we had expected from a four star hotel and we would certainly not recommend it as a venue for a reception or to visitors to Bournemouth.
Sign in with Facebook
